V part I The Young Pod

The Young Pod is a celebration of the interrelationships between the plants and people of the lotus growing ecology of Cambodia. The first of five woven creations was made with Khmer women of the Siem Reap province for the purpose of performance. The weave encompasses multiple plants that sustain the Khmer people and their way of life: from plants used for medicine, food, shelter, textiles, adornment, rope, furniture and sacred practice. 

Nelumbo Nucifera, the sacred Lotus that inspired the form of the work is a plant that has been celebrated by peoples throughout time. It symbolises an unbroken plant people tradition that spans cultures, landscapes and oceans: its inherent nature and ability to lie dormant for thousands of years has inspired spiritual teachings across the globe. The project draws in to focus the inherent value of plants to our existence and celebrates this continued relationship.

Today this piece resides within the Mekong Ganga Textile Collection. The women and I aim to complete four further designs from other plant species of the lotus growing region in the creation of an entire immersive and meditative performance.

*not in the performance section as there is no video recording.